Golden Eagles sweep Lassen College

FRC freshman Cody Bonner lets a high pitch go by last weekend in Susanville. The Golden Eagles beat Lassen 9-3 and 9-1 Saturday, April 9. Photos by Kayleen Taylor

4/13/2011 - The Feather River College baseball team swept a four-game Golden Valley Conference series against Lassen College to complete seven games in a seven-day stretch, bringing the Golden Eagles’ winning streak to 11 games.

The Golden Eagles defeated the Cougars by scores of 19-3, 9-3, 9-1 and 3-2. With the sweep, Feather River head coach Terry Baumgartner collected his 497th career win in his 14th season as a college head coach. The Golden Eagles improved their record to 24-4 overall and 17-1 in conference.

In game one on Wednesday at the Eagles Nest, the Golden Eagles pounded out 23 hits and scored in every inning but one to cruise to the 19-3 victory. Every FRC starter in the lineup had at least one hit, led by sophomore Dayton Alexander and freshman Andrew Millner with three hits apiece.

Sophomores Jaret Bogue and Victor Mendoza each added two doubles, with Bogue adding three RBIs on the day.

On the mound for the Golden Eagles, sophomore Tyler Hoelzen picked up his second win of the season by throwing seven innings, allowing six hits and zero earned runs. Freshmen Beau Hodge and Millner each pitched a scoreless inning to finish off the Cougars.

Games two and three of the series shifted to Susanville on Saturday, with more of the same results for the Golden Eagles, as they were able to sweep the doubleheader by scores of 9-3 and 9-1.

In game one of the doubleheader, sophomore Victor Mendoza led a 14-hit offensive attack with three hits, three RBIs, a double and his first home run of the season.

Fellow sophomores Dayton Alexander and Jaret Bogue also added three hits, with Bogue collecting two RBIs and two doubles.

On the mound for the Golden Eagles, sophomore Jerad Harvey picked up his seventh win of the season. Harvey scattered three hits over eight innings and struck out four. Freshman Andy Amaro came on and pitched the ninth, giving up one hit and one unearned run to close out the victory.

In game two of the doubleheader, the Golden Eagles once again used strong pitching from a trio of pitchers on their way to a 9-1 victory.

Sophomore Cody Anderson got his second start of the season and pitched seven strong innings, as he picked up his fifth win of the season by allowing one hit and one run while striking out eight batters.

Freshmen Dae Yang Kim and Beau Hodge each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Offensively, the Golden Eagles smacked around 11 hits and were led by sophomore Casey Yocom and freshman Daniel Katayama, as they each had two hits in the game. Freshman catcher Sean Ryan scored three runs and drove in two runs with his first home run of the season.

Game four of the series came back to the Eagles Nest on Sunday and was a tight contest throughout, as both teams struggled offensively, but the Golden Eagles rode the bat of sophomore Victor Mendoza to win 3-2.

Mendoza led the Golden Eagles with three hits, freshman Daniel Katayama provided a two-RBI single in the fourth, and sophomore Dayton Alexander added a sac fly in the seventh to provide the only runs the Golden Eagles would need.

On the mound, freshman Alex Vetter picked up the win in his first start of the season. Vetter pitched the first five innings, allowing four hits and one run, while walking one and striking out three batters. Freshman Dae Yang Kim came on in the ninth with two runners on base to pick up his first save of the season.

Up next for the Golden Eagles is a two-game Golden Valley Conference series with Butte College on Friday and Saturday, and then the Golden Eagles will host Lassen College on Sunday.

Friday’s game with Butte College will be at the Eagles Nest at 2 p.m. and then on Saturday the Golden Eagles will travel to Butte for a 1 p.m. contest.

Sunday’s game versus Lassen College will start at 1 p.m. Friday and Sunday’s game can be heard live on the FRC baseball website. To get updated stats and information on the Golden Eagles, go to spincostats.com or gvcstats.com, or visit the Feather River College baseball Facebook site.